Philadelphia Flyers' Ian Laperriere retires

View full sizeAssociated Press photoIn this March 11, 2010, photo, Philadelphia Flyers' Ian Laperriere moves the puck during an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins in Philadelphia. Laperriere retired from the NHL on Tuesday, June 12, 2012, more than two years after playing his last game. He sat out the past two seasons because of post-concussion syndrome resulting from getting hit in the right eye with a puck during the 2010 playoffs.(AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Flyers forward Ian Laperriere has retired from the NHL, more than two years after playing his last game.

Laperriere sat out the past two seasons because of post-concussion syndrome resulting from getting hit in the right eye with a puck during the 2010 playoffs. He officially retired Tuesday because his contract expired and he was able to come off the salary cap.

The 38-year-old Laperriere was hit in the face in Game 5 of a first-round series against New Jersey during Philadelphia’s run to the Stanley Cup finals. He suffered a concussion and fractured orbital bone, but returned a little more than a month later to play in the final two rounds.

Laperriere couldn’t overcome his concussion-related symptoms the next year and spent the past two seasons mentoring draft picks and prospects.